For the first time in Bangladesh, a polymerase chain reaction laboratory or PCR lab has been launched in a private initiative in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj district to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of people diagnosed with coronavirus. The molecular lab facility, set up on the sole private initiative of Member of Parliament Mr. Golam Dastagir Gazi, Minister of Textiles and Jute Ministry (Bir Pratik) and Chairman of Gazi Group, is fully ready for testing samples of the Coronavirus (Covid-19). It should be mentioned that, this is the first time in Bangladesh that such an initiative has been set up to establish molecular laboratory besides the government testing center for examining Covid-19.
The lab was virtually inaugurated on Wednesday where all invitees joined the program online. Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Malik joined the virtual inaugural meeting as the Chief Guest, while, Textile and Jute Minister Mr. Golam Dastagir Gazi (Bir Pratik) joined the event as a special guest. In addition, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Iqbal Kabir, Director of Planning & Research, DGHS; Mohammad Jasim Uddin, Deputy Commissioner of Narayanganj; Superintendent of Police, Narayanganj, Mohammad Zaidul Alam, District Civil Surgeon Mohammad Imtiaz, and Rupganj Upazila Chairman Mr. Mohammad Shahjahan Bhuiyan were also present among others. The virtual meeting was conducted by Managing Director of Gazi Group, Golam Mortuza Pappa Gazi.
The lab, including isolation unit, set up at Bestway City in Kanchan area under Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj district, will have two virologists and four doctors for testing. Five technologists will be involved in collecting swab samples, who will go out in fields to collect samples from different places in Narayanganj.
There are two hotline numbers in the lab for sample collection. The numbers are 0177-7774220 and 0177-7774222. If called on this hotline number, a team of technologists will go to collect samples.
This whole sample collection process will be fully coordinated with the Directorate General of Health Services, DGHS and IEDCR. With the establishment of this test lab, samples will now be collected from Narayanganj and will be tested in this test lab. Resultantly, the patient will be identified on that same day. The isolation and quarantine process will be several times more progressive than before and the chances of getting advanced treatment as critically ill patients and Covid-19 patients will be greatly increased. Mentionable, this whole test is completely free for the public.
-rmc/